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Health Secretary Wes Streeting has compared Labour's recent defeat in the Caerphilly by-election to the Hartlepool by-election, which almost led to Keir Starmer's resignation as leader. Streeting's comments have intensified speculation about Starmer's leadership, with discussions about ousting him reportedly heating up among MPs and ministers. Labour is currently polling below 20 per cent in several polls, while the Green Party has seen a surge to 12 per cent, according to a Techne UK poll for The Independent. The Caerphilly seat, which Labour had held for 107 years in both Westminster and the Senedd, saw the party finish a poor third with only 11 per cent of the vote. Sources confirmed that Starmer would have resigned if Labour had lost the Batley and Spen by-election in 2021, with Streeting reportedly preparing a leadership bid at the time.
